Title: Let's Learn To Be Grateful in Jesus
Let's learn to be grateful (Matthew 11:20-30)
There are relative gratitude and absolute gratitude. Absolute audits are not affected by the environment and conditions. As God's grace comes upon us, we give thanks in any circumstance and in any circumstance. Remembering that there is nothing that we eat, wear, and live today that is not a gift of God's grace, we should give absolute thanks. I hope you will learn gratitude by examining the flames that appear in the four Gospels.
1. One child took the five barley loaves and prayed for thanks: a miracle (John 6:1-13).
(1) The miracle of the five fish
When Jesus feeds the 5,000 people through 5 barley loaves and 2 fish in the wilderness of Bethsaida, in the empty field, we see the content of the Lord giving blessings for 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. ‘Congratulations’ here means ‘prayer of thanks’. As a result, the crowd ate all of them and there were 12 stocks left.
(2) Because of the flames, a miracle happened.
Jesus had the belief that it was God who put the little child who had the miracle ingredient there. When we have the belief that God knows our needs, we can be thankful no matter what our circumstances are today. That is why thanksgiving is the right conduct of those who believe (Psalm 50:23)
⑶ What we must remember here is that there was a prayer of thanksgiving first, and then a miracle followed.
2. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered in front of the tomb of Lazarus: an answer to prayer (John 11:41-44).
(1) Lazarus rose from the dead
In addition to Lazarus, there were two sisters, Martha and Mary, living in a family where Jesus could easily visit. However, Lazarus, the most important person in this family, died. After hearing such news, Jesus, who came to this portrait house, went to the cave where Lazarus was buried and offered a prayer of thanks (John 11:41-42). No, how could Jesus offer a prayer of thanks when Lazarus died? It can be seen that it was because of intimate prayerful fellowship with God. Who is the Father Jesus is calling now? He is the one who always hears his son's prayers.
(2) The secret of prayer is the belief that God always hears prayer (John 11:41,42).
Verse 41 says, “..Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” Verse 42 says, “I knew that you always listened to me.” The miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus followed when we thanked God, faithful God, for answering our prayers. Our Heavenly Father always hears his son's prayers. That is why gratitude must come first in our prayers (Philippians 4:6-7). When a person reaches the limit, when he reaches the limit, he or she will appeal to someone for help. I hope that our children of God will be able to appreciate the privilege of being called ‘Father’ toward the God who created the heavens and the earth, the God who sustains and provides for all things, and the Almighty God, rather than our physical parents and brothers. Therefore, the greatest resource and the greatest capital that we humans can have is Almighty God who hears our prayers. Do you believe in him as your Father? Thank God for that.
3. At the Last Supper, He took the cup and bread and offered a prayer of thanksgiving: Salvation (Luke 22:17-20)
(1) Jesus promised a new covenant at the Last Supper
Jesus had the Last Supper with his disciples before dying on the cross to atone for all the sins of mankind. Jesus first offered a prayer of thanks and shared bread and cups with his disciples (Luke 22:17,19). Oh, thank you is really meaningful. I want you to think of the Lord who is thankful even before you die. After this supper, the Lord went up to the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “Will you carry the cross? Shall we not?” and prayed all night long. So, it is said that he shared the sacrament while pretending to be calm on the outside, but how could he even thank you for that? In fact, this Last Supper is the Lord's Supper. The bread and cup placed on the holy table are the monuments of the establishment of the new covenant (verse 20). Matthew 26:28 says, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Therefore, the first promise contained in the sacrament we receive is the promise of the forgiveness of our sins.
What actually has to do with Jesus and us? It doesn't matter. But God promises to forgive our sins. This promise makes possible completely irrelevant things. The new covenant is a gracious covenant. Originally, the Old Covenant was a law that God gave us. But no one could be saved by keeping this law. Rather, it only aggravates our sins. But when Jesus died on the cross, saying, “It is finished,” He promised to save everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, and he who believes in Him will be saved. This is the new covenant.
(2) So we Christians live through Jesus (John 6:54-57). Yanman 湯?Thank you for being saved, thank you for the great love you sacrificed for me on the cross, and remember and give thanks to the Lord's Supper that renews the emotion of salvation every day at every worship service. Thank you for the relationship between God and your children through the new covenant that has promised me the forgiveness of sins. Thank you for your salvation.
4. He prayed thanks in spite of failure: God's special revelation (Matthew 11:20-26).
(1) Jesus curses the unrepentant
Jesus was thankful even when he saw that the people who should have repented and believed in God did not believe. Jesus evangelized throughout Galilee. He healed many sick people and cast out demons, preaching through wonders and signs so that they could repent and believe in God (verses 20 and 21). It is that Korazin and Bethsaida did not repent despite Jesus performing so many miracles and showing them. So their sins and responsibilities were far greater than those of Tire and Sidon (verse 22). Although Korazin and Bethsaida where Jesus performed so many ministries, there is no record that these two cities explicitly opposed Jenm nzek. But they were indifferent and therefore unresponsive. Indifference makes a person die of exhaustion. Non-response does not suppress faith, but suffocates it. Nevertheless, Jesus cursed them when they saw Korasin and Bethsaida, who did not know how to repent. Jesus rebuked Korahin and Bethsaida, but this time he rebukes Capernaum (verses 23, 24).
When we evangelize, there are many times when we become discouraged. This is because they repent of their sins and do not immediately accept the Gospel. But Jesus suddenly gave thanks and prayed (verse 25). No, it goes further that it was God's will for this to happen (verse 26). We must be able to hear God's voice in this passage (verses 28-30).
After all, believing in Jesus is not something everyone believes in. It is that those who labor and are heavy laden come to the Lord and seek rest in order to believe in Jesus. The wise and discreet people of the world do not accept God's revelation because they believe in their knowledge and experience. But little children depend well on the Absolute. So we accept that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Everyone, if you have faced many setbacks this year, I hope you will come to God as a child and depend on Him. And pray for that matter. And I wish you peace. It is rest itself when we pray before the Lord. It is peace that returns to us because the Lord hears our prayers and takes the burden for us.
(2) True rest must be carried out.
Because the yoke is a symbol of work, we must do what Jesus sets us to do. Look at the yoke oxen. Cows are supposed to keep pace with those who drive them. That is the characteristic of the yoke-bearer. In other words, we Christians need to keep pace with Jesus to find rest. Only when I bear the cross of the Lord can I learn the heart of the Lord. Only then will you enjoy true rest and peace. But now, who are the people who have realized the truth of repenting and devoting themselves to God? Little children. The wise and prudent people in the world do not understand this principle of the Lord's work, but little children understand the spiritual mystery of heaven. Here little children are disciples of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:17ff).
Ministry: Let's give thanks for knowing God and bear the fruits of evangelism.